“Can you believe it…” MMA legend Enson Inoue reveals shocking PRIDE FC contract allowing fighters to use steroids
MMA and Jiu Jitsu legend, Enson Inoue, revealed his old PRIDE FC contract which shockingly allowed fighters to use steroids

Enson Inoue at the promotional event of Redbelt (Image Courtesy - BJJ Heroes)
In his latest post on Twitter, MMA, and Jiu-Jitsu legend, Enson Inoue revealed shocking details about his old PRIDE FC contract which exempted fighters from drug testing for performance-enhancing stimulants like Steroids and EPO. Technically, allowing fighters to use steroids.
The details also revealed that the promotion was indirectly encouraging the fighters to use performance enhancers by having no mandated drug testing for performance enhancers as part of their contract. “Performance-enhancing stimulants of steroid family are specifically excluded from the scope of the test”, as per the contract featured in the tweet.
PRIDE FC was established in 1997 in Tokyo, Japan as an MMA promotion long before UFC was able to create an audience for itself. PRIDE FC had been known to have given the initial wave of stylistic fighting legends such as Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Royler Gracie, Anderson Silva, Renzo Gracie, Enson Inoue, and many more such legends.
The MMA veteran wrote, “Check out my old Pride fight contract. Can you believe it actually said….” in his recent tweet. PRIDE FC was notorious for not testing fighters back in the day. Several fighters faced serious punishment once Athletic commissions began looking over fights and testing fighters for steroids.
Check out my old Pride fight contract. Can you believe it actually said…..#prideneverdies pic.twitter.com/mMicAgTgRj
— Enson Inoue (@ensoninoue) January 15, 2023
Related: Does Joe Rogan take steroids?
Joe Rogan comments on the steroid epidemic in MMA

The Joe Rogan Experience has been known to be the most insightful of all existing podcasts in the world because of its versatility in inviting guests from different sectors of business, science, entertainment, sports, and literature. With a library full of podcasts and a range of topics to cover, Joe Rogan has often addressed steroid use in professional sports like boxing, MMA and wrestling due to his close association with UFC.

In the featured video, Joe talks about Fedor Emelianenko in his prime and suspects that the Russian fighter might have been using steroids during his contractual tenure with PRIDE FC. Joe also mentioned his conversation with Enson Inoue about steroid use during the glory days of PRIDE FC. “I was talking to Enson Inoue, a legend from the PRIDE FC days. He said every fighter on the roster was on steroids during that time“, Joe added as he discussed the subject further with author and podcaster, Lex Fridman.
Rogan has mentioned Inoue revealing to him about how PRIDE FC encouraged the fighters to take steroids and vowed to not test them. The long-time UFC commentator has also discussed in several episodes how fighters under the influence of steroids have physical advantages over natural fighters. When UFC acquired PRIDE FC and its fighters, many of them were popped for using PEDs.
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